Vehicle spring



'-Vlay 2o 1924.

1,494,627 c. P. RANDoLPl-x VEHICLE SPRING Filed April 4V dag/3k lMaw 20 1924@ WUZZ? C. F. RANDOLFiE VEHICLE SPRING Filed April'f. 192) E Sheamwheet 2 flttoznm ing.

The opposite ends of the lower series of spring leaves are connected by pivots 1() to levers 11, each lever, in this instance, being constructed in halves oi' sections and the pivots beingr formed by bolts. In this instance the leaf 6 is the one that is connected with the pivots andfor this purpose it isV provided with eyes 12 through which the pivots extend. The ends of the pivots 10 rest in the opposite halves of the levers. Journaled in each lever are rollers 13 which form a roller bearing for the adjacent end of the lower series of spring leaves. The opposite ends of the spring leaf 7 are bowed upwardly as indicated at 1li, and rest upon rollers 15 which aremounted on bolts Y16 supported in the levers 11. Thus the oppositeendsof the upper series aresupported on rolleribearings and therollers .15 consti tute abutments adapted toengage the lower spring leaf series whenl the inner ends of the levers are swung downward;

Each lever 11 is provided with a second Vabutment which, inv this instance, is in the forni of a roller 17 mounted onv a bolt 18 supported bythe lever. The bolt is selectively placed in any one of a series of holes 19 provided in the lever so that the abutment 17 can be spaced various distances from the lower series of spring leaves. One end of each lever is provided with an eye 2O or is otherwise constructed for connection with thechassis of the vehicle. For this purpose shackles 21 are shown in the draw- The spring leaf 9 isprovided at its opposite ends with eyes 22 through which extend bolts 23. The bolts 23 also pass through the eyes of eye bolts 211, forming links, and the links at each end are connected with each other by cross members Q5 held in place by nuts 26 onthe eye bolts. The cross members a re positioned beneath the opposite ends of the spring leaf 1 which preferably has its opposite ends downwardly bent as indi lated at? Q7. to prevent the cross members slipping from beneathsaid leaf as the spring works. From this it is clear that the opposite Vends of. the spring leaf 1 bear upon the. cross members 25 and are connected with the upper spring leaf 9. p

The upper andlower series of spring leaves .excepting the leaf 1, when manufactured, are bowed away from each other so that when assembled asin Figure 1 they are under some tension. The upper and lower series are prevented from bowing away from each other more than ay predetermined distance by reason'of eye bolts 28 arranged in pairs, the4 eyes of each pair ofV bolts being connected,together by a cross bolt 29 and the lower endsof the eye-boltsof each'pair being connected by a cross memberBOAheld in place by nuts 31 on the eye bolts. The

Vspring lea-ves are interposed between the bolts 29 and cross members 30. The leaves of the upper series are riveted or otherwise fastened together near their iniddl as indicated at and the leaves of the lower series are fastened together near their n1iddle by a bolt 33 or its equivalent.

'Cach lever 11 is provided with a top portion or cover -let in which the rollers lil are jonrnaled and said cover is provided with an oil duct 35 normally closed hy :i plug 31'. The oil duct extends through the cover -ll-` to a point immediately over the c ve 12 .so that oil fed to the duct will spread upon the eye 12 where said eye coines into contact with the rollers 1?. .llach lever 1l is pro vided with holes (i6 of which the utility will be explained hereinafter, said holes being just above the spring bows 1l.

This spring operates as follows: A\ssuni ing, for example, that the vehicle, beneath which the spring is placed, is lightly loade ed, the load will be imposed more directly upon the lower` series of spring leaves through the bolts 10, but when shocks come upon the vehicle, or upon the wheels ot the vehicle. the. eyes 2O of the lever 11 will be suddenly forced downwardly. The lower spring leaf series being the stili-er will support the bolts 10 which act as fulcruins for the levers and permit the levers to turn about said bolts so that the inner ends of the levers will swing upwardly, thus carrying with them the rollers 15 and the ends of the upper spring leaf series. Thus, though the load be light, it is actually supportedby a very stili' spring, but the shocks are in reality absorbed more by the more yielding upper spring series than by the stiller lower springseries.

ln event of the vehicle beiingheavily loaded, a portion of the load will be resisted by the upper spring leaf series just the saine as said upper series resists the shocks when the vehicle is lightly loaded. The lighter shocks transmitted to the vehicle spring, when the vehicle is heavily loaded. will be largely absorbed by the upper spring lea l series, and the lower series will aid in absorbing relatively heavy shocks.

lllhen the spring is heavily loaded. or at least when heavy shocks occur while the spring is heavily loaded, the upward nioves ment of the inner end of the levers l1 causes the abutments 17 to engage the under side of the spring leaf 4t to cause compound flexnre of the lower spring leaf series. This` of course. stilens the resistance to the heavier loads or shocks.

Upon rebound or back lash of the spring, after the shock has occurred as above described. there is a tendency for the outer ends of the` levers 11 to be swung upwardly beyond their normal level relative to the pivots 10, thus causing the abutment l5 to engage the upper face of the spring leaf G itlll llll fl il Il l) Laetitia? .tgp

to produce compound fienure of the lower spring leal series in a direction opposite to,

that caused, as just described, on receiving4 the shock. Thus the lower spring leal series acts in both directions, lirst to absorb the initial shock and, second, to absorb the rebound or back lash of the spring` due to the tendency ol the spring to recover its nornial position alter compression by shock.

lt is to be noted that the relatively ininete vibratioiu; that oldinarily occur in` inotor cars, when riding along; the road, are readily absorbed by a con'iparatively light sprine, whether the vehicle be lightly or heavily loaded.

lf the leaves oli the lower spring' ineinber or series break, the nuts 31 will be tightened up to tightly clamp the upper and lower series together and bolts, not shown, will be inserted in the holes 66 of the levers 11 to prevent pivotal movement oli the levers, so that the upper series will positively connect through the levers with the shackles 21 and thus serve to yieldiiiggly support the body of the vehicle. Thus a temporary splice is effected, with very little trouble and delay, until the end of the trip is reached and repairs can be conveniently made.

New referring1 more particularly to the forni of the invention shown in Fipures 3 and 4h the elements that correspond in construction and function to those above described will be designated by the same reference characters and are as follows: the springrr leaves 2 to 6, incluw sive, the bolts i. the levers l1, the eyes 12, the rollers 13, the bows 111, the rollers or abutments 15, the bolts 16, the rollers or abutments 17, the bolts 18, holes 19, eyes 20, shackles 21, eyes 22. bolts 23, eye bolts 2l, cross members 25, nuts 26, curved ends 27, eye bolts 28, bolts 29, cross nienibers 30, nuts 31, covers 3d, oil ducts 35, iilugs 36 and holes 66. y

The lower springr leal" seri is is 'formed in part by the leaves 2 to (i, inclusive, and.

partly by the springV leaves arranged in endwise alineinent, the cross members 26 einpgagriitgY beneath the outer ends of the leaves 37 and the cross members 30 engaging beneath the inner ends of said leaves. The inner ends olt the leaves 37 are curved as indicated at G7 to prevent the leaves 3i" pulling' 'from between the leat 2 and cross inembers 30.

In this form of the invention the upper springI leal series is not continuous as in `Figure 1, but is formed in two separate sections or halves, the leaves o'tl each section being indicated at 3S, and 40. The inner ends oi the upper spring; leal series are downwardly bent as indicated at 4:1 so as to rest upon the upper lace oll the spring; leal'. G, thus spacing` the upper series et spring' leaves 'from the lower series excepting at the gading the bolts 2B.

The operation ol the sprinn` just described will be understood iiroin the description oli the operation ot the torni o iE spring' shown in llligures l and 2, since the action is subsl antially the saine.

New referring," to lFigures T, tl and il, there are shown an upper and a lower series oi spring leaves, the leaves ot the lower serie, beineI indicated ut il, 5, le and Jil; and the leaves of" the upper series being' indicated at 18, 49, 50, 5l and 52. llach series inay be 'formed oit any desired number ot leaves ac cording to the stillness ot the spi-ingr desired, and in the particular instance shown the upper series is the stiller ci, the two. :lll oll the leaves may be suitably fastened together at their niiddle portions by rivet 53 or its equivalent. lllhen the spring; is inanu`A lectured the two series of leaves' are normally bowed away from each other by a izreater amount than is shown in Figure G so as to be under tension when assembled.

rllhe opposite ends oi the springr leaf 52 are provided with eyes 5dthroug-Vrh which pass bolts 55. the opposite ends ol said belts beine; supported by .levers 56 and the bolts 5b lorniing the pivots or liulcrunis of' said levers. In this particular instance the levers 5G are 'torined in halves or sections. rlhe outer ends olE the levers may be connected by bolts 57 or other suitable nieans to the ve hicle, and in this particular instance said bolts connect the levers with shackles fill shown` liragriuentarily in the drawings.

rFlic inner ends ol" the levers 5G are provided with abutnicnts termed by rollers fill adapted to engage the upper lace oli the leali 52 when the outer ends ol5 the levers are inoved upwardly relative to the pivots 55. rllhe rollers 59 are niounted on bolts GO supported at their opposite ends in the opposite sides ol* 'the levers The bolts 60 also pivotally connect liults (l1 to the levers 56.

The linlrs el are arranged in pairs and exrtending between the lower ends oitl the links ot each pair is a bolt (S2. the bolt passingl through an eye (S3 'Formed on one end ot the spring leal del. .he links 6l ot each pair are provided between the bolts 60 and 62 with a series of holes (il adapted, to be selectively engaged by a bolt journaling` aroller G9 which constitutes an abutment to engage the under :tace oit the upper spring?,r

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leaf series when the outer end of the lever Vcomes the outer ends of the levers 5G are forced upwardly, thus tending to flex the upper spring series, but because the lower series is less stift said lower series will be flexed. lVhen, however, a'V heavier shock is transmitted to the outer ends'of the leversV ,56, not only will the rollers 59 engage the up-per spring leaf series and flex the lower. spring lea-f series. but the force of the shock causes compound flexure of the upper spring leaf series, much after the manner in which the lower series is flexed in the forms of the invention Shown in Figures l, to 6,y inclusive. When the spring is heavily loaded, the rollers 59 will normally engage the upper series, and hence both series will function to absorb shocks transmitted through the levers 56.

Upon rebound or back lash of the spring, subsequent to its iiexure under shock, the tendency of the outer ends of the levers 58 is to be Vdeflected below their normal levels relative to the pivots 55,Y thus tending to move the links 61 upwardly so as to exert an upward pull upon the ends of the lower spring leaf series. The lower spring leaf series being the less stili", it will flex until the rollers 69 engage the un der face of the upper series, whereupon the resistance of the upper series will become edeetive to still further absorb the Vrebound action and neutralize the same. It is clear that the rollers 69 may be readily adjusted toward and from the upper' Vspring leaf series according to the degree of flexure of the lower series it is desired to permit before the upper series come into action to resist the rebound.

It will be clear from the foregoing that in all of the forms of the spring disclosed a lever is pivoted to one end of a spring leaf and is provided with abutmentsboth above and below the leaf adapted to be respectively movedtoward the leaf when the lever is turned in opposite directions, and that means are provided to yieldingly hold the lever against turning in either direction, said means being the upper and lower leaf series in Figures Into 6 and being the lower series in Figures 7 to 9. It is also clear that the upper series in Figures 7 to 9 yieldingly holds the levers against turning in one direction, when the rollers 59 are engaged with the upper series. In Figures l to tl, when the rollers l5 are engaged with the lower series, said lower series yieldingly holds the levers against turning in one direction.

I claim 2 l. In a vehicle spring, a spring leaf, a lever pivoted to one end of said leaf and provided near one end with an abutment adapted to be moved toward the leaf when the lever is turned in one direction, and a floating spring leaf .vieldingly holding the levr against such turning.

2. In a vehicle spring, a spring leaf. a lever pivoted to one end of said leaf and provided near one end with an abutment adapted to engage the leaf when the lever is turned .in one direction, and a floating spring leaf i,fieldingly holdingthe lever against turning in the opposite direction.

3. In a vehicle spring, a spring leaf, a lever pivote-d to one end of said leaf and provided near one end with .fin abutment adapted to be moved toward the leaf when the lever is turned in one direction, and a floating spring leaf yieldingly holding the lever against such turning and against turning in the opposite direction.

4t. In a vehicle spring, a. spring leaf, a lever pivoted to one end of said leaf and provided near one end with abutments above and below the leaf adapted to be respectively moved toward the leaf when the lever is turned in opposite directions, and means yieldingly holding the lever against turning in one direction.

5. In a vehicle spring. a spring leaf, a lever pivoted to one end of said leaf and provided near one end with aliiutments above and below the leaf adapted to be respectively moved toward the leaf when the lever is turned in opposite directions` and means yieldingly holding the lever against turning in either direction.

6. In a vehicle spring, a spring laf` a lever pivoted to one end of said leaf and provided near one end with an abutment adapted to be moved toward the leaf when the lever is turned in one direction; and a second leaf spring connected with the. lever and yieldingly holding the lever againstturning in the opposite direction.

7. In a vehicle spring, a spring leaf, a lever pivoted to one end of said leaf and provided near one end with an abutment adapted to bemoved toward the leaf when the -lever is turned in one direction and prok vided with a second abutment adapted to be moved toward the leaf when the lever is turned in the opposite direction, and a second leaf spring connected with the lever and yieldingly holding the lever against turning in said opposite direction.

8. In a vehicle spring, a spring leaf, a lever pivoted to one end of said leaf and iii meneer provided near one end with an abutment adapted to be moved toward the leaf `when the lever is turned in one direction, and a second leaf spring having one end resting on the abutment and tending to press said abutment toward the first named leaf.

9. ln a vehicle spring, a spring leaf, a .lever pivoted to one end of said leaf and provided near one end with an abutment and a second leaf spring having one end loosely resting on the abutment.

l0. ln a vehicle spring, a spring leaf, a lever pivoted to one end of said leaf and provided near one end With a roller, and a second leaf spring having one end loosely resting on said roller.

11. lln a vehicle spring, a series of spring leaves, means foi` connecting the opposite ends of said series to a vehicle chassis, a lever pivoted to one end of one of the leaves of said series, and another spring leaf connected with the lever, the middle portion of the first leaves being secured to the second named leaf and the first and second named leaves being constrmted to expand in the same direction as one another.

l2. ln a vehicle spring, a series of spring leaves, a second series of spring leaves, the first and second series being constructed to expand in opposite directions, means Whereby a load may be imposed on the series, a lever pivoted to one end of one of the leaves of the first series, and another spring leaf connected with the lever and positioned adjacent the second series and being constructed to expand in the same direction as the first series.

13. In a vehicle spring, a spring leaf hav ing an eye, a lever pivoted to the eye, rollers `iournaled in the lever and engaging the eye, and a floating spring leaf yieldingly holding the lever against turning.

lil. ln a vehicle spring, a spring leaf hav ing au eve, a member pivoted to the eye, and rollers journaled in the n'iember and engag in the eye, said meniber heilig connected by means lincluding a floating spring member to a vehicle chassis.

1li. ln a vehicle spring, a spring leaf, a lever pivoted to the spring leaf and provided with an abutment adapted to be moved toward the spring leaf by turning of the lever in one direction, a second spring leaf having one end engaging the abutment and having its opposite end bent to engage the middli` portion of the first spring leaf, the intermediate portion of the second leaf being bowed away from the first leaf, and means .holding the bent end of the second leaftoward the first leaf.

16. In a vehicle spring, a spring leaf, a lever pivoted to one end of the spring leaf and provided with an abutment at its inner end adapted to engage the spring leaf, a secs ond spring leaf constructed to normally ex ert its power in a direction opposite to the first spring leaf, and means connecting the second spring leaf to the inner end of the lever.

17. ln a vehicle spring, a spring leaf, a lever pivoted to one end of the spring leaf and provided With an abutnient adapted to engage said leaf When the lever is turned in one direction, a second spring leaf, and means connecting the second spring leaf to the lever, the second spring leaf being constructed to exert its power to tend to turn the lever in a direction to move the abutment toward the first spring leaf.

18. ln a vehicle spring, a spring leaf, a lever pivoted to one end of the spring leaf and provided with an abutment adapted to engage said leaf when the lever is turned in one direction, a second spring leaf, means connecting the second spring leaf to the lever, the second spring leaf being constructed toY exert its povver to tend to turn the lever in a direction to move the abiiitment toward the first spring leaf, and a second abutment on said connecting means adapted to be moved toward the first leaf when the lever is turned in the opposite direction.

19. dfn a vehicle spring, two different strength series of spring leaves constructed to expand in opposite directions, means to connect both ends of both series to a vehicle frame and permitting relative endivise movement between the series, i one of the series being free at its middle portion to expand and contract relative to the other series, and means connecting the series to limit relative expansive movement.

20. In a vehicle spring, tvvo different strength series of spring leaves constructed to expand in opposite directions, means to connect both ends of both series to a vehicle frame and permitting relative endwise movement between the series, one of the series being free at its middle portion to enpand and contract relative to the other series, means connecting the series to limit relative expansive n'iovement, links pivoted at one end to one of the leaves of one scries, and yielding means connected with the links to minimize rebound of the series hav ing the last named leaf.

21.]n combination, a chassis fra-me, a leaf spring, a lever pivotally connected at one end to the frame and intermediately to one end of the leaf spring, the other end of the leaf spring being` connected With the frame. means to connect the leaf spring iii-- termediately to an axle, and an abutment on the lever engaging and constituting the point about which fleXure of said spring occurs upon relative movement of the frame and axle.

22.1n combination, a chassis frame, a leaf spring, a lever pivotally connected at one'end lo the frame and intermediately to one end of the'leaf spring, the other `enel of VVtheleaf spring being connected with the frame, means to connect the leaf spring intermediately `to an aXle, and an abutment connected with the lever'andengaging and constituting thepoint about which flexure of said 'spring ooeursupon relative move 1ment of the frame-and axle toward each other. i n Y 23. In'combination, a chassis frame, a leaf spring, a lever pivotally Connected at one V:end to the frame and intermediately to one end of the'leaf spring, the other end of the leaf spring' being connected with the frame,

means to oonneot the leaffsprng interme* diately'to an axle'7 and an abutment connectedwith the lever and` engaging and constituting the point ab'outwhioh fle'Xure of said A"end to the 'frame and intermediatebT to one' e'nd of the leaf spring7 the other rend of the leafspri'ng being oonnectedwith the chassis spring odours upon relative movement of rthe frame andV axle away from each other.

24. Inc'ombination,- a'ehassis frame, a leaf spring alever pivotally connected at one frame, Ine'ansto connect the leaf spring inup'on relative'movement of the vframe and 'axle toward'eaoh other, and means yieldingly holding theabutrnentagainst'inovement away Ifrom the' spring.

25. In combination, a chassis frame, a leaf spring, a lever pivotally connected at one end to the frame and intermediately to one end of the leaf spring, the other end of the leaf spring being connected with the chassis, means to connect the leaf spring interA mediately to an axle, an abutment on the lever engaging and constituting the point about which fiexure of the spring occurs upon relative movement of the fran'ie and axle toward each other, means yioldingly pressing the abutment toward the sprinm and a second abutment connected with the lever and engageable with the spring upon relative movement of the frame and axle away from each other.

26.111 combination, a chassis frame. a heavier leaf spring. a lever pivotally oonneoted at one end to the frame and intermediatelv to one end of the leaf spring7 the other end of the leaf spring being connected with the frame, means to oonneot the leaf 1 spring intermediatelv to an axle` and a lighter leaf spring constructed to oppose the first spring and Connected at one end to the other end of the lever and Connected interniediatelv with the axle.

Signed lat Los Angeles. California, this 28th dav of March, 1921.

CLABEORN P. RANDGLPH. lVit-nesses i Gnome H. Hrnns. L. BELLE WEAVER. 

